“[W]hen we invest in women, they invest in their children’s education, their health, their families and their businesses, helping to propel whole nations forward. Women are delivering for their communities, but they’re still waiting for the world to deliver for them. Now, we have an opportunity to make good on our end of the bargain,” Jill Sheffield, founder and president of Women Deliver, writes in the Huffington Post’s “Impact” blog. She notes ongoing discussions to determine the post-2015 development agenda, and she states, “If we are to continue making global progress for years to come, this post-2015 agenda must call for renewed and increased commitments to girls and women.”

Sheffield notes the upcoming Women Deliver 2013 conference to be held in Malaysia will be “a critical moment to galvanize the global community to reaffirm women’s rights as human rights and change the world.” “Investing in the health of girls and women is a solution to every development problem,” she states, concluding, “Focusing on this key issue will alleviate poverty, stabilize societies, spur economies and advance the well-being of families, communities, and ultimately, our world overall. Now is the time to secure a central place for girls and women on the global agenda” (5/16).